Music-holder for pianos.



G. H. GRINGS. MUSIC HOLDER FOR PIANOS. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 19, 1911.

Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

GOLUMIIA mNoclAPu co., WASHIN CASPER H. GRINGS, OF WATERLOO, IOWA.

MUSIC-HOLDER FOR PIANOS.

Application filed May 19, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CAsPnR I-I. GRINGS, citizen of the United States, residing at Waterloo, in the county of Blackhawk and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Music-Holders for Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a device for holding sheet music in convenient position to be seen by the piano operator and so held that each leaf can be readily turned by the operator or without interfering with any other leaf of the sheet.

Another object is to provide means for removably attaching my device to a piano without coming in contact with the piano, except the part that is padded and hence will in no manner mar the polish of the piano and further adapting it to be adjusted so that it can be used on different sizes and shapes of pianos and in different positions relative to the operator.

The following specification will show in what my device consists, the manner of construction and mode of operating when taken in connection with the drawings accompanying the specification and forming a part hereof.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a piano with the device attached and holding the sheet of music. Fig. 2 shows a side view of the device attached to the piano. Fig. 3 shows a perspective top and rear view of a piano with the device attached. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the sleeve. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the sleeve with one of the holders in engagement.

Like characters of reference denote corre sponding parts in each of the figures.

In the drawings, 2 designates an up-right piano, 4 the ordinary music rest of the piano and 5 the top. On the top 5 is placed a weighted member 6 with a downwardly projecting end 8. This member is constructed of some heavy material either metal or hardwood like mahogany and has a pad 10, beneath it, of felt or other soft material to prevent marring the piano. On the forward end is a lug 12 provided with a horizontal opening through which an arm 14 is inserted and is held in place by a thumb nut 15. By this mode of construction of the weighted member, it can be readily moved to any position on the top of the piano and being Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 19, 1912.,

Serial No. 628,288.

padded and of considerable weight will 'remaln where it is placed without any injury to the finish of the piano and the arm 14 can be adjusted to different positions nearer or more remote from the sight of the operator.

The sleeve 16 consists of a hollow truncated cone having the body 18 and downwardly projecting lugs 20 which project below the body 18 and are secured to a plate 22. This plate is provided with a screw thread opening. In this opening is inserted the arm 14 which is bent out sufficiently to be free from contact with the piano and eX- tends down and is screwed into the opening in the plate 22 and the lower bent portion at 21 is in engagement with the notch 23 in the sleeve 16.

For the purposes of holding each leaf of music there is provided an arm 25 with the end 26 bent at substantially right angle, which is inserted under the sleeve 16 and rests upon the plate 22. To this is attached a clasp 28, the lower end of which is adapted to'grasp a leaf of a music sheet. To the outer end of the arm 25 is secured a ball 30, which aids in turning the leaf. There may be placed in the sleeve as many of these arms 25 as are needed for the number of leaves to a given sheet of music. It will be noticed that the arms 25 having the balls 30 cannot come in contact in any manner with the piano for they will be stopped by the lugs 20 on the sleeve 16 which prevent them from being turned back in contact with the piano.

The manner of operating will be readily understood. Each leaf of the sheet of music is placed in the grasp of a clasp 28 and the thumb screw 15 is released allowing the arm 1-1 to be adjusted nearer or more remote to the desired sight of the operator and the weighted member 6 is moved along on the top of the piano to such position as the operator finds it most convenient to read the music, and all of the arms with a leaf of music in engagement, are turned to one side, then the operator can readily turn the leaf by taking hold of the ball 30 without interfering with any of the rest and as these are not of the same length there will be no misitakp in taking the one to turn the proper It is manifest that slight changes may be made in the form of the sleeve 16 or the member holding the arms or the adjustment may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having now described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the character described, a weighted member adapted to rest upon the top and engage the rear of a piano, a bentarm adjustably secured to the weighted member, a sleeve secured to said arm, carrying rods removably engaging the sleeve and provided with clasps adapted to engage the leaves of a sheet of music.

2. In a device of the character described, a weighted member provided with a padding on its base, a bent arm, means for adjustably and removably securing the bent arm to the weighted member, a sleeve secured to the bent arm, carrying rods removably secured in the sleeve and adapted to be swung from side to side, and a clasp for each carrying rod adapted to engage a leaf of the music sheet.

8. In a device of the character described, a weighted member provided with a pad and adapted to engage the top and rear of the piano, a bent arm, means for adjustably securing the arm to the weighted member, a sleeve provided with lugs, a plate secured to the lugs, carrying rods engaging the inner side of the sleeve and resting on said plate and adapted to have a swinging movement, and clasps on the carrying rods for grasping the leaves of the music sheet.

4. In a device of the character described, a weighted member provided with a pad, a lug at one end of the member, a bent arm, means for adjustably securing the bent arm to the weighted member, asleeve secured to the bent arm, a plate attached to the sleeve, carrying rods provided with balls at their ends removably engaging the inside of the sleeve over the plate and adapted to be swung from side to side, and means attached to the carrying rods for grasping the leaves of the music sheet.

5. In a device of the character described, a weighted member provided with a pad and adapted to be moved to any part of the top of the piano or removed from the piano, a lug provided with an opening on said weighted member, a bent rod, means for adjustably and removably securing said rod to the weighted member through said lug and preventing said rod from coming in contact with the piano, a sleeve secured to said bent rod and provided with lugs at its base, a plate secured to said bent arm beneath the sleeve, carrying rods each bent at one end and adapted to engage the inner side of the sleeve and rest on said plate, and a clasp attached to the carrying rods for grasping the leaf of the music.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CASPER H. GRINGS. W'itnesses G. H. CHEEVER, TrmoRA OLMsrEAD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

